VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV is set to hold his first private audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, following the papal inauguration mass, according to an official statement from the Vatican.
Prior to the meeting, the newly installed pontiff expressed his deep concern for the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. “The martyred Ukraine is waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace to finally happen,” Pope Leo XIV declared, underscoring the urgency for diplomatic resolution.
President Zelenskyy was among a distinguished group of global dignitaries—including politicians, royal figures, and religious leaders—who gathered in St. Peter’s Square to witness the ceremonial beginning of Leo XIV’s papacy. During the event, Zelenskyy was seen greeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance with a handshake, marking a moment of symbolic international unity.
Concluding the mass with his Regina Coeli prayer, Pope Leo XIV extended his message of compassion to other regions plagued by violence and suffering. He lamented the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where “children, families and elderly survivors are reduced to hunger,” and highlighted the tragic toll of renewed violence in Myanmar, where “new hostilities have destroyed innocent young lives.”
The pope’s words reflect a strong commitment to advocating for peace and human dignity across multiple global conflict zones as he begins his spiritual leadership.
